joshua heller

Joshua Heller currently advises brands and destinations on how to expand their voice in the travel space and the larger media landscape.

As a writer he focuses on non-fiction travel narratives, technology, internet culture, globalization, social entrepreneurship, and humor. His expertise on the nature of trends has been sought by The New York Times, Gawker, and Zocalo Public Square. He has been published by The Awl, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, & College Humor.

Josh is the co-founder of Summer Commune, a diverse temporary intentional community somewhere in North America. He has lived in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Brooklyn, Berlin, & Moscow, Idaho.

He was previously Director of Digital Strategy at Matador Network, the world's largest online travel magazine. Prior to joining Matador Network, Josh was a managing editor at Al Gore's Current TV.

Writing, editing, social media, implementing strategy, cultivating ideas, community building. I speak English & Spanish. I can use Office suite, Photoshop, WordPress, CMS, Ableton, Final Cut, social media platforms.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Travel Media Consultant, freelance: Advising brands and destinations on how to expand their voice in the travel space and the larger media landscape.

November 2013 - Present

Director of Digital Strategy, Matador Network: I am helping to Matador Network to develop a more robust editorial strategy for expanding their brand by creating content based around an editorial calendar and breaking news. I use trends, analytics, and creative strategies to advise the direction of their editorial programming.

January 2012– November 2013

Freelance writer: I’ve written for College Humor, My Damn Channel, The Awl, Matador Network, AOL, various zines and Zocalo Public Square. In March 2011, I was The Awl’s correspondent at SXSW. In September 2012, I was sent to travel Canada by train for Matador. In March 2013, I covered Park City for Matador. Clips available on my website.

July 2010 – Present

Online Producer, Current TV: Wrote original content, broke news stories, developed relationships with other media entities, and edited Current’s homepage.

The compound is considered a holy site in both Islam and Judaism, and its administration reflects the difficult balance between the constituents in the region. While Jordan is the custodian, Israel is in control of security. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site in guided tours, but not to pray.

In commemoration of the Jewish holiday Tisha B'Av on Sunday, members of the Jewish far right, who have called for Jews to be allowed to pray at the site, visited the al-Aqsa complex. Palestinians often consider these police-escorted tours a provocation.

I always get angered at these emails from the content farm that I used to work on. It’s like “hey we paid you $25 two years ago, but now look at all these bullshit views that we got from your bullshit work.”

Decades ago film & tv writers organized to set up a system to be remunerated for their work as it values over time. Actors and writers and musicians get residual checks for past work that they performed.

Obviously 500,000 views on a throwaway list is not going to make somebody rich, but maybe it’ll yield a check for 17¢.

And seriously there is a bar fifteen minutes away that will give you a free drink if you write your residual check to them.

today i had to get in touch with my cousin who is visiting from abroad via leaving a message with my great aunt, him calling me back, and me giving him my phone number so he can call me back.

now my mom got a text from his wife asking what our plans are, she called me, i said i didn’t know, she confirmed with his wife, and sent an email to my dad, sister, aunt, and me asking about our schedules.

MORAL OF THE STORY: It’s hard to get in touch with family members who don’t have cell phones.

As a writer he focuses on non-fiction travel narratives, technology, internet culture, globalization, social entrepreneurship, and humor. His expertise on the nature of trends has been sought by The New York Times, Gawker, and Zocalo Public Square. He has been published by The Awl, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, & College Humor.

Formerly the engagement editor at GOOD Worldwide. He runs all of GOOD Magazine's social channels, produces daily content, writes copy, and develops traffic-driving strategies from an analytics-informed editorial perspective.

Josh is the co-founder of Summer Commune, a diverse temporary intentional community somewhere in North America. He has lived in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Brooklyn, Berlin, & Moscow, Idaho. He is also the principal at Reverb Vacation. We advise brands and destinations on how to expand their voice in the travel space and the larger media landscape.

He was previously Director of Digital Strategy at Matador Network, the world's largest online travel magazine. Prior to joining Matador Network, Josh was a senior editor at Al Gore's Current TV.

Experience

Jun
2015 - Present

Campaign Editor / Participant Media

This is a hybrid role sitting between TakePart.com's editorial and advertising teams to develop and implement branded editorial campaigns. I'm on contract through this fall.

Mar
2015 - Present

Coprincipal / Crass Cultural

Solutions.

Apr
2014 -
Mar
2015

Engagement Editor / GOOD Worldwide Inc

I ran all of GOOD Magazine's social channels, producing daily content, writing copy, and strategizing from an analytics-informed editorial perspective.

Apr
2012 -
Mar
2015

Cofounder / Summer Commune

Summer Commune is a diverse & temporary intentional community somewhere in North America.

summercommune.com

Sept
2010 -
Mar
2014

Writer / Writer

My narrative non-fiction & trend pieces have appeared in The Awl, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Zocalo Public Square, College Humor, Current TV, Urlesque, Slacktory, Matador, & Ranker.

I've contributed to web series for Portal A and written for television at Associated Television International. I contributed to the St. Martin's Press published travel guide: 101 Places to Get Fucked Up

Jan
2012 -
Nov
2013

Director of Digital Strategy / Matador Network

Working to increase Matador's audience through strategic partnerships, traffic initiatives, and developing robust editorial content. I use trends, analytics, and creative strategies to advise the direction for their editorial programming.

I previous served as a consulting editor at Matador Network. I wrote, edited, and commissioned non-fiction travel narratives.

As Online Comedy Producer I wrote original content on comedy, internet memes, and internet trends for Current Comedy Blog. As the web liaison to Infomania and SuperNews, communicated internet trends to producers and talent,contributed original segments, researched programming materials, performed minor on-screen appearances. Developed business relationships with websites such as College Humor, Buzzfeed, and AOL. Promoted Current programming on Current.com and other websites. I previously curated Current.com with topical news stories, reported breaking news, verified credibility of user-contributed news, developed Current news “pods” (web-to-television productions). New York, NY.

Mar
2008 -
Nov
2008

Coworker / Not An Alternative

I worked remotely for Current TV from a desk at a collective workspace in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This space has since been replaced by a barbershop for $60 haircuts and a *free* PBR.

Aug
2006 -
May
2007

Señor Profesor / Liceo Anglo Frances

I was a teacher at a high school outside of Mexico City. I taught courses in English grammar, Geography, and Hip Hop studies.

Mar
2002 -
Dec
2005

Kitchen Supervisor / ASUCD Coffee House

I oversaw the production and distribution of food that was entirely prepared by a student staff of 240. I also served as the defacto social director.